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Physical and humiliating punishment (PHP)

By April 2017, 52 countries have a total ban of corporal punishment in all settings. This means that a large majority of children in the world are living in countries where they are not protected against physical and humiliating punishment.

Children continue to be physically punished and deliberately humiliated in almost all societies and across all cultures as this practice remains far too common at home, in schools and institutions. Teachers, parents, and other caregivers often lack knowledge on how to guide children using nonviolent methods, and in many communities physical and humiliating punishment is deeply rooted in social norms and culture. In a humanitarian crisis, children are more at risk of physical and humiliating punishment, due to the increased stress on families, separation, and the breakdown of formal and informal safety nets.

Save the Children works towards preventing and protecting children from all forms of actual and threatened physical and humiliating punishment and bullying, in the home, in schools and in all other settings. This is done through advocating for legal reform and supporting awareness-raising initiatives leading to changes in attitudes and practices. We also promote parenting education and positive discipline programs, targeting caregivers, teachers and other people working with children. Children are seen as key actors throughout the process.

Save the Children uses the term Physical and Humiliating Punishment, instead of corporal punishment, to capture the wide array of disciplining methods used by adults towards children, which may include corporal or physical punishment, and the threat of it, as well as psychological punishment that belittles, scares or ridicules the child.

Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires states to take "all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child..."

Documents (207)

Corporal/physical punishment of children is a global problem that occurs in all societies. Corporal punishment violates the child's physical, emotional and spiritual integrity and is therefore incompatible with religious and universal values of respect fo

The “Situation Analysis of violence and physical and humiliating punishment of children in Vietnam” database was implemented by the Institute of Social and Medical Studies in collaboration with Save the Children Vietnam in 2016, with financial support fro

A survey undertaken by UNICEF shows that 90% of children in Ghana have been subjected to violent discipline in the year before the study. This statistic represents the 7th highest rate of violent punishment in a sample of low and middle-income nations. Th

The year 2015 has witnessed extensive progress towards universal prohibition of physical and humiliating punishment of children, more than half of UN member states have now achieved legal prohibition in all settings or have expressed a committment to doin

Over the past quarter century, research on physical punishment has proliferated. Almost without exception, these studies have identified physical punishment as a risk factor in children’s behavioral, emotional, cognitive and brain development. Together, r

School corporal punishment is currently legal in 19 states, and over 160,000 children in these states are subject to corporal punishment in schools each year. Given that the use of school corporal punishment is heavily concentrated in Southern states, and

This handbook is a revised, abridged version of the handbook “ Ending corporal punishment of children – working with and within religious communities ” (2011). It provides links to tools and resources for engaging with and enlisting the support of religio

Save the Children is initiating a campaign in the Latin America and Carribbean regions, targeting parents and caregivers to change attitudes and end corporal punishment. The campaign is called 'No quieres que te vean asi' (You don't want to be seen like t

Target 16.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) states “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” Prepared by the Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children, this briefing ur

Save the Children believes that children have a right to live a life without violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect, and in 2015 it is unacceptable that violence against children still takes place. We know that violence against children is a reality th

These advocacy messages are for Save the Children’s staff and partners working at all levels around the world. They reflect the priorities within the Child Protection Initiative Strategy for Physical and Humiliating Punishment, are derived from the work a

The physical punishment of children is still common practice in Scotland and the rest of the UK; its use in the home and in private foster care is still lawful, despite growing controversy of its use. This review was published with the aim of updating the